Invitation to a ball in Nashville, Tennessee, celebrating Jackson's election as president

Changing Party Politics

Andrew Jackson's presidency represented a new chapter in American party politics. Jackson initially ran for president in 1824, and he won more Electoral College votes than the other three candidates. He did not, however, win a majority (more than half) of the Electoral College votes needed to become president.

This meant that the House of Representatives would decide, and they chose John Quincy Adams as the sixth president. Not one to give up, Jackson defeated Adams in 1828, following a bitter campaign with more participation than ever by ordinary people. Do you know how Jackson's background affected his presidency?